in the middle east

"David stayed in the desert strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands" (1Samuel 23.14-15).
It is astounding just how short a distance it is from Jerusalem to the deserts referred to in this story. Just a 15-20 minute drive East of Jerusalem, and you are in an isolated wilderness. Last weekend, we got together with some friends and planned a hike in these very hills, along a dry river bed called Wadi Kelt. Our driver dropped us off at a trailhead in what felt like the middle of nowhere, and we began our journey down the wadi until we reached our destination: the isolated desert monestary of St. George. Had we continued along the wadi we eventually would have emerged from the hills into the Jordan valley overlooking Jericho. It was a unique afternoon of becoming acquainted with the climate and atmosphere of the desert wilderness. To see a bit more, Click Here.